National Puddle Day planned in memory of young crash victim

Matthew

Rain, shine or snow, Matthew Chatelain lived in his rubber boots at preschool.

The smiley, bubbly little Hamilton boy would have turned five Thursday, but his life was cut short this past summer in a tragic car crash.

To remember Matthew, staff at Kinderseeds preschool celebrated his birthday with cake and balloons in his favourite colours – green and orange.

Staff also had the kids write down their wishes for Matthew.

Remembering those rubber boots, Kinderseeds program director Sherri Crechiola is planning National Puddle Day for April 27 in Matthew’s memory.

The idea is for people in local schools and surrounding communities to don rain boots and jump in a puddle to honour Matthew and all children whose lives are cut short, she said.

She is also in the process of setting up a foundation, so that on that day she will collect donations.

This year the money raised will go toward the grieving Chatelain family – mom Tricia, dad Kevin, and baby brother Christopher. But in the years to come, Crechiola said, she also hopes to help other families who lose children under similar circumstances.

“Matthew’s parents are having a very difficult time; many bad days, some so-so days,” said a family spokesperson, reading from an agreed statement. He added that healing will be a long, slow process and that the family “is forever changed because of the tragedy.”

Tricia and her boys had just left the preschool on the afternoon of June 21, 2010, and were driving on Upper James Street, between Twenty and Dickenson roads, when a delivery truck slowed to make a turn. The Chatelain car was the second in line stopped behind the truck.

Out of nowhere a school bus – empty save for the driver – barrelled into the car, crushing the back seat and killing Matthew.

The school bus driver was charged with careless driving.

While the family has been just trying “to stay afloat,” Crechiola said that in the months since the crash she has made it a mission to keep Matthew’s memory alive.

She said she already has the support of a number of schools in the area, Mohawk College’s early childhood education program and the firefighters who were the first to arrive at the crash scene.

When kids start at Kinderseeds, Crechiola said she asks them what they want to be when they grow up. Their answers are written on cut-out stars, posted on the ceiling.